Remote controlling apparatus



" A ril 16, 1935. H, A, WALLACE' 1,998,178

REMOTE CONTROLLING APPARATU S Original Filed Sept. 23, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 L PanelNaZ.

U @1281 Panel No.1. I' T N ,1 55

Comr'alcmd l11d- (ca/12212 Relays C'ode ON W 2 ORWZ ( HIS A TTORNEYApril 16, 1935.

H. WALLACE REMOTE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 23, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 M d .H MIII Stations own 4 D E1 0RW4 i INVENTOR 0%. W 471 mi mQ Fig. Z?

[fibvA TT 059} "E Y Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES I 1 ,99s,1"7s gREMOTE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Herbert A Wallace, Edgewood, Pa., assignorto e The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Continuation of application Serial No. 564,578, September23, 1931. .Thisapplicationt August 11, 1933, Serial N0.'684,678 v 21Claims. (o1. are-3) My invention relates to remote controllingapparatus,and particularly to apparatus for controlling a plurality of traingoverning devices, such as railway switches and signals, from a remotepoint, such, for example, as a train despatchers oflice. J

One feature of my invention is the provision of means for reducing thenumber of manual operations necessary for controlling each of variousgroups of such train governing devices;

The present case isa continuation of, my 005 pending application, SerialNo. 564,578 filed Sep-, tember 23, 1931, for Remote controlling appawratus. I

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims V 1 The accompanyingdrawings, Figs. 1 and 1 when placed side by side withFigl on the left,constitute a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodyingmy invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character A designates adiagram of a stretch of railway track having four switch and signalstations designated by the Roman numerals I, II,'

III, and IV, respectively. As here shown, each of these stationscomprises a switch and four signals for governing traflic movements overthe switch. For example, station Icomprises switch 1 IZ, signals ILA andIL3 for governing the move- J II, III and IV are designated by referencecharacters which are similar to those for theswitches and signals atstation I, except that they include the numerals 2, 3 and 4,respectively, instead of the numeral I. I i s v The switch and signalsof each of these Sta-- tions are controlled from a remote point, such,for example, as a train despatchers ofiice. Diagram A representing astretch of track with four switch and signal stations each of Which comprises one switch and four signals, is suitably placed in thedespatchers office. Mounted adjacent the symbols for the signalsand'switch for each station, are two indicators which are here shown aselectriclamps, one of which desighated by a distinguishing numeral withthe exwhich, designated by a distinguishing numeral with the exponent w,is arrangedto illuminate an arrow pointing toward the left. The purpose.

of these-indicators is to indicate the direction of traffic. establishedby; the despatcher as will be explained'hereinafter. v 1 r i Mounted-inthedespatchers ofiice adjacent diagram A,- are' control panelsnumberedl, 2, 3 and 4 for stations I, II, IIIand IV, respectively. Each-of these'COIltIOliDQIlBlS is equipped for controlling, code transmitting andreceiving, apparatus in the despatchers ofiice, such, forex-v ample, asthat-shown and described in a pend-V. ing patent application, SerialNo.- 373,675, filed June 25, 1929; by Lloyd V..Lewis, for Remotecontrolling apparatus. On :panel number I, I have shown indication lamps81,, 88, 89, 90, 9| and 92 and switch 240, which are the same astheparts havinglikereference characters inthe. Lewis application, and whichhave the same circuits, notshown in the drawings, as are shown for thesame parts in the Lewis application. The other panels, 2, 3, and, 4, maybe similarly equipped;

The switch and the signals at each of the stations, I, II, III andIVmay-be controlled by control codes transmitted from the despatchersoflice in the manner shown and described in the Lewis application.

Each of the panels numbered I, 2, 3 and 4 has a switch control leverdesignated by the reference character pwith a prefix corresponding tothe number of the panel. .In my invention, each lever pis provided withthree contacts 305, 301 and 309 in addition to the similar contactsshown for lever In in the Lewis application. I have shown, without anumber, on each of the panels I, 2, 3, and 4, the contact of each leverp which corresponds to the contact of lever lp shown on panel numberl'linrthe Lewis application, and which, as in the Lewis application, isconnected to contact 295 of relay OSI andis for the purpose ofdetermining the character of certain elements of a control code tocontrol a switch in accordance with the position of lever 20. I Mountedon each ofthe panels I, 2, 3 and 4 is a pair of mutually independentpush button circuit controllers, one of which has a contact arm .302.and thev other of which has a contact arm 303. Each pair of, circuitcontrollers is designated by the reference character F with a prefixcorresponding to the number of the panel. These circuit controllers are,used forv clearing the signals, instead of the lever I q in the Lewisapplication. Whereasinthe Lewis, application, lever Iq is used forcontrolling only one signal at a time,,e,ach of thepush button circuitcontrollers in my invention maybe used for controlling a variableplurality of signals governing the movement of traiiic in the samedirection. Each of the push button contact arms 302 and 303 is springbiased to its released position shown in the drawings, as indicated bythe spring applied to arm 302 of circuit controller 1F. Each contact,arm 302' when in its released position connects witha contact a, butwhen depressed it becomes disconnected from contact a and connects witha contact I) for controlling signals governing trafiic moving from leftto right. Each contact arm 303 when in its released position connectswith a contact g, but, whendepressed,

it becomes disconnected from contact '7 and connects with a contact d,for controlling signals governing trailic moving from right to left.

Mounted on each panel is also a. signal lever designated by thereference character I with a prefix corresponding to the number of thepanel. Each lever ,f is provided with a contact 318, which is normallyclosedas shown in the drawings. When a lever fis moved toward the right,to its reverse position, its contact 318 opens. This has the same resultas is secured in the Lewis application by moving signal lever iq to itsintermediate position so that its contacts L and R are both open. Eachlever f is for separately controlling a track switch 2, without clearingone of the associated signals, or for controlling one of the associatedsignals from clear to stop.

A push button circuit controller ld2, provided with'two contacts 300 and308, is attimes used in conjunction with a circuiticontroller of one ofthe pairs F, as will be described hereinafter. A second push button3114, provided with two contacts 304 and 308, and a third push button2013, provided with two contacts 320 :and 821 are also at times used inconjunction with a circuit controller of one of the pairs F.

Polarized signal control relays, designated by the reference characterFP with prefixes corresponding to the numbers of the associated controlpanels, are controlled by the signal circuit controllers of pairs F inconjunction with switch levers p and circuit controllers ld2, 2:13 and3014. Resistance units 30l, having various values of resistanceaccording to their location, are used in various operations of thecircuits for relays FP in order to secure approximately uniform currentstrength in the various circuits when various numbers of relays FP areoperated at the same time.

Each relay FF is so constructed that when the relay becomes deenergized,its polar contacts remain closed in the positions to which they werelast moved until the relay again becomes energized by current of theother polarity.

The circuits including contacts 311, 310 and I34 correspond to thecircuits including lever I and contact I34 in the Lewis application,these circuits being for the purpose of determining the character ofcertain elements of a control code for controlling the signals inaccordance with the positions of lever f and. of contact 311. Theenergization of a relay FP by closing a contact 302 of a. pair F causesthe right-hand contact 3|! to close, 'for clearing a signal such as IRAor IRB governing trai'fic moving toward the right, while theenergization of a relay FP in the opposite direction by closing acontact 303 of a pair F causes contact 311 to move to the left-handposition shown in the drawing, for clearing a signal such as ILA or :ILBgoverning traffic moving "toward the left. The opening of contact 3! ofa lever I while a control code is being transmitted will cause thesignals at the corresponding station to assume their stop position.

Each of the code starting relays OHI, CH2, CH3 and 01-14 has a pick-upcircuit controlled by contact 3l6 of a starting push button CPI, and astick circuit, including its contact 123, which is exactly similar tothe stick circuit shown for relay OHl in the Lewis application. Otherpick-up circuits are provided, however, for these relays in myapplication in addition to the pick-up circuit through contact 3l0.These additional pick-up circuits for relay OHI, for example, arecontrolled by the neutral contact 3l5 of relay I FP, and include one ormore of the contacts 3|0 to 3i3, inclusive, which I have added to theindication storing relays ONWI, ORWI, OLHI and ORl-Il of the Lewisapplication. The circuits for controlling relays ONWI, ORWI, OLHI andORHI are the same as those shown in the Lewis application for relayshaving the same reference characters, and are hence omitted from thedrawings in my present application.

The purpose of these additional pick-up circuits for relay OHI is toprovide an arrangement for transmitting a plurality of codes, whichavoids the transmission of unnecessary codes, and these circuitsfunction in such a. manner that a control code will not be transmittedwhen'a relay FF is picked up as the result of operation of one of thecircuit controllers F if the positions of the indication relays for astation indicate that the switch and signals at such station alreadyoccupy the positions to which they would be moved by the code. Thus ifsignal ILA or ILB is clear so that relay OLHI is energized, and if relayI FF is energized momentarily to the leftto the position shown in thedrawing, the pick-up circuits for relay OHI which include left-handcontact 3!!! will be open at the back contact 3|2 of relay OLHI, and theinitiation of a. code by this circuit is prevented; on the other hand,if an opposing signal is clear so that ORHI is energized, the pick-upcircuit will be closed over front contact 3I3 of relay ORHI, while ifthe signals for both directions of trafiic are at stop so that relaysOLHI and ORHI are deenergized, a pick-up circuit will be closed overback contacts 313 and N2 of relays OLHI and ORHI, so that the momentaryenergization of relay FP will cause the transmission of a code. Sincethese circuits are symmetrically arranged for the two directions, it isclear that similar results with respect to the opposing signal areobtained when relay [FF is energized in the oppositedirection.Furthermore, even though the signal control and indication correspond,the initiation of a control code is not prevented unless the switchcontrol and indication are in agreement. Thus if the switch is normal sothat relay ONWI is energized, but the switch lever I1) is reversed, apick-up circuit for relay OHI will be closed over the right-hand orreverse contact of Ip and front contact 3l0 of relay ONWI, but thiscircuit will not be available if the switch is reversed and relay ORWIis energized and ONWI deenergized. In the latter case, a pick-up circuitincluding contact 3 of relay ORWI and the normal or left-hand contact ofIp will be closed, which circuit is not available when the switch isindicated as being in its normal position. It is clear, therefore, thata control code will be transmitted when IFP is picked up in all casesexcept when the indicated positions of the switch and signal are thoseto which they would be movedas the result or send- T ing the code. I I

Other control and indication relays and code apparatus, not shown in mypresent application, may be controlled in the same'manner as in theLewis application.

Having described, in general, the arrangement and location of thevarious parts, I will now describe in detail the operation of one formof apparatus embodying my invention. I will assume that, as shown in thedrawings, switch levers p are in the normal-position as indicated byreference N, that all switches are normal and that all signals are atstop, that contact arms 302 and 303 of pairs F are in their releasedpositions, and that signal levers f are in their closed position. I

I will also assume that a train-moving from left to right is approachingsignal IRA, and that the despatcher wishes to permit this train to movethrough the stretch represented by the diagram A over the route whichincludes all switches in the normal position and which is governedby themain line signals IRA to 4RA, inclusive. The despatcher will depresscontact arm 302 of pair IF thereby completing a circuit passing fromterminal B of a suitable sourceof current, not shown in the drawing,through a resistance unit' 3M, contact 302b of pair IF, winding of relayIFP, contact 303-g of pair I F, normally closed contact 304 of circuitcontroller IdZ, contact 3o2 a of pair 2F, winding of relay 2FP, contact303-5g of pair 2F, normal contact 305 of, lever 2p, contact 32I ofcircuit controller 2d3, normal contact 305 of lever 31), contact 302-aof pair 3F, winding of relay 3FP, contact 303-g of pair 3F,-contact 304of circuit controller 3d4, contact 302a of pair 4F, winding of relay4FP, contact 303-g of pair 415, normal contact 305 of lever'4p, jumperwire 306, normal contact 301 of lever 4p, and resistance unit 30| toterminal C of the same source of current. a a,

Upon completion of the circuit just traced, relays IFP, ZFP, 3FP and 4FPare energized toclose their neutral contacts 3I5 and also their righthand polar contacts 3| 4, 3|! and 3I9. Contact 3I5 of relay IFP, uponbeing closed, completes a pick-up circuit for relay OHI passing fromterminal B, through right-hand contact 3 I 9 of relay IFP, back contact3I3 of relay OLHI, back contact 3I2 of relay ORI-II, contact 3I5 ofrelay IFP, and relay OHI to terminal C. Relays CH2, CH3 and CH4 becomeenergized by similar pick-up circuits passing through contacts 3I5 and3I9 of relays 2FP, 3FP and 4FP, respectively. Eachof the relays OHI,CH2, CH3 and CH4, upon becoming energized, completes its own stickcircuit through its front contact I23, by which it is held energizedafter the contact arm 302 of pair IF has been released by the despatcherand has returned to the normal position causing the relays FP to becomedeenergized and open their front contacts 3I5 in the pick-up circuitsfor relays OHI, CH2, CH3 and CH4. 1 The energization of starting relayOI-II initiate the transmission of a control code, causing stationselector relay OSI to become energized to close its contacts I34 and295, to complete certain circuits through contact I34 of relay OS I,contact 3I8 of lever If, and right-hand contact 3H of relay IFP, andthrough contact 295 and the normal contact of lever lp, for clearingsignal IRA. The .energization of relays ZFP, 3F'P and 4FP similarlycauses control codesto be, trans mitted one at a time in sequence forclearing signals 2RA, 3RA and 4RA.

The result of the operation of the contact arm of pair IF, with allswitch levers p in their normal positions, is therefore to clear allmain line signals for a train movement through the entire stretch ofterritory represented by diagram A.

At the conclusion of the operations resulting from the transmission ofthese codes, indication codes will be transmitted from each station inturn to'energize indication relays ONW and ORH for each'panel to causethe energization of indication lamps 88 and32 for each panel. All ofthese operations are carried out in the manner described in the Lewisapplication.

Since the polar contacts of relay I FP are closed to the right, acircuit is completed for indicator lamp I adjacent switch IZ of diagramA, and passes from terminal B, through the right-hand contact 3I4 'ofrelay IFP, and lamp I e to terminal C. Indicator lamps 2, 3 and 4 arealso lighted by similar circuits. The lighting of these lamps or of thesimilar lamps I to W, inclusive, for the opposite direction, gives acontinuous indication to the despatcher of the position of the polarcontacts of the relays IFP, 2FP, 3FP and 4FP after the contact arm of apair F hasbeen released; In this way, the despatcher is kept informed asto the direction of traffic which he has established at each'stationalong the stretch of track represented by diagram A.

I willnext assume that with signals IRA, 2RA, 3RA -and 4RA cleared for atraflic movement from left to right through the stretch 'of trackrepresented by diagram A, the despatcher decides to havea' train movingtoward the right meet and pass an opposing train at the siding betweenstations II and III, the first mentioned train to proc'e'ed along themain line, and the opposing train to enter the siding over switch 32reversed. The despatcher will, therefore, permit signals IRA and 2RA toremain at clear, but will move switch control lever 3p to its reverseposition R for reversing switch 3Z, and will also depress contact arm303 oi pair 4F, for reversing switch 3Z and for clearing signals 4LA and3LB.

The operation of contact arm- 303 of circuit controller pair 4Fcompletes a circuit passing from terminal B, through a resistance unit30!, contact 303d of pair 4F, winding of relay 4FP, contact 302-a ofpair 4F, contact'304 of circuit controller 3d4, contact 303-g of pair3F, winding of relay 3FP, contact 302-a of pair 3F, reverse contact 305of lever 3p, contact 320 of circuit controller M3, and normal contact301 of lever 2p, through resistance unit 30! to terminal 0. The circuitjust traced through relays and 4FP causes these relays to becomeenergized in a direction to close their left-hand contacts.

Neutral contact 3I5 of relay 3FP, upon being closed, completes a pick-upcircuit for relay 0H3 passing from terminal B, through reverse contact309 of lever 3p, contact 3I0 of relay ONW3, contact 3 I5 of relay 3FPand relay 0H3 to terminal 0. With the left-hand contact 3|! of relay 3F?closed and with lever 3p reversed, a control code is transmitted tostation III for causing switch 32 tobecome reversed and signal 3LB toclear.

, xNeutral contact3l5 of relay 4FP, upon being closed, completes apick-up circuit for relay 0H4 passing from terminal B, through left-handcontact 3I9, front contact 3I3 of relay OBI-I4, contact 3I5 of relay 4FPand relay 01-14 to terminal 0. With the left-hand contact of relay 4F?closed andwith lever 43) normal, 9. control code is transmitted tostation IV for causing signal ILA does not become effective until themain line to clear.

The result of the operation of contact arm 303 of pair 4F, with switchlever 49 normal and 3p reversed, is therefore to cause signal 3RA toassume the stop position so as to permit a train movement from left toright up to signal 3RA only, and to reverse switch 3Z and to clearsignals ALA and 3L8 to permit the movement of an opposing train up tosignal ZLB.

At the conclusion ofthe operations resulting from the transmission ofthesecodes, indication codes will be transmitted from stations III andIV for energizing indication relays ORW3, OLH3, ONW4 and OLH I, to lightindication lamps ,89 and 90 of panel 3 and lamps 83 and -90 of panel 4.

When the despatcher is'informed, by the lighting of the trackindicationlamps 01 of panels 2 and 3 as the result of the transmission-ofindication codes initiated by the entrance of the trains into therespective switch sections as described in the Lewis application, thatthe train moving toward the left has passed signal 3LB, and that thetrain moving towardthe right has passed signal ZRA, he'will return lever3p to normal and will reverse lever, 21). He -will then depress contactarm 3020f pair 3F to transmit two codes, one to station III forrestoring switch 3Z to normal and for clearing signal '3RA, and theother to station IV for clearing signal RA, and will depress contact arm303 of pair 2F to transmit two codes, one to station I for clearingsignal ILA and the other to station IIfor-reversingswitch 2Z and forclearing signal 214B. V

The operation of contact ,arm 302 of 3F completes a circuit through thewindings of relays 3FP and 4F]? passing from terminal B, through aresistance unit I, contact 302-,-b of pair 31', Winding of relay 3FP,contact 303-0 of :pair 3F,- contact 304 of circuit controllerv ;3d4,-contact 302-a of pair 4F, winding of relay'4FP, contact 303g of pair 4F,normal contact 305 of lever 4p, jumper Wire 306, normal contact 301 oflever-4p, and resistance'unit 30I. to terminal C. This circuitcausesrelays 3FP and FF to become energized to close their neutral andright-hand polar contacts. Relay-0H3 becomes energized, and with theright-hand contacts of relay 3FP closed and with lever 3p in its normalposition, a control code is transmitted to station III for causingswitch 32 to be returned to its normal position and forclearing'signal3RA. This code, of course, does not becomeefiective untilthe train entering the siding has passed beyond. the opposing signalSRB. Relay 0H4 also becomes energized and a control code is transmittedto station IV for clearing signal 4RA.

The operation of contact arm 303 of circuit controller pair 2F completesa circuit through the windings of relays IFP and ZFP passing fromterminal B, through a resistance unit 8M, contact 303-d of pair 2F,winding of relay 2FP, contact 302a of pair 2F, contact 304 of circuitcontroller Id2, contact 303-g of pair IF, winding of relay IFP, contact3027a of pair IF, normal contact 305 of lever In, jumper wire 306, andnormal contact 301' of lever 1;), through resistance unit 3!" toterminal'C. This circuit causes relays I FP and 2F? to be energized toclose their neutral and left-hand polar contacts, to cause a controlcode to be transmitted to station I for clearing signal ILA and a codeto :be transmitted to station II for reversing switch'2Z 'and "forclearing signal 2LB.

The code transmitted to station 11, "of course,

train, moving toward the right, has passed beyond the opposing signal2LA.

The'result of the operation of contact arms 303 of pair 2F and 302 ofpair 3F, with switch lever 2p reversed and 3p normal is therefore toreverse switch 2Z and to permit the train moving toward theleft to passsignal ZLB at clear and to continue to the end-of the territoryrepresented by diagram A, and also to restore switch 32 to normal and topermit the train moving toward the right to pass signal 3RA at clear andto continue to the other end of the territory represented by thediagram.

At the conclusion of the operations resulting from the transmission ofthese control codes, in-, dication codes will be transmitted from eachstation in turn in the usual manner.

I will now assume that with all switches normal and all signals at stop,the despatcher wishes to clear signal IRA for a train moving toward theright, but that he is :not ready to permit the train to pass ,station IIand that he wishes to retain signals 2RA and ZRB at stop. He willtherefore depress push button Id2 and will then depress contact arm 302of pair IF, thereby completing a-circuit passing from terminal B,througha resistance unit 30I, contact 302-b of pair IF, winding of relayIFP, contact 303g of pair IF, contact 308 of circuit controller IdZ,through resistance unit 30I to, terminal C. This circuit causes'relay-IFP to be energizedto close itsneutral and righthand polarcontacts, anda control code will be transmitted for clearing signal IRA.None of the other relays ZFP, 3FP and Ilil? being energized by'thecircuit just traced while push button Id2 is depressed, the only control7 code transmitted will be "the one for clearing signal IRA, and hencenoother signals will-change indications. y

I will now assume that with all switches normal and all signals at stop,the despatcher wishes to permit the train approaching station II fromthe left to continue on the main line, but to hold it at signal 3RA.That is, he Wishes to clear signal ZRA without changing any of thesignals at any of the other stations. To do this, he will depress pushbutton 2:13 and will then depresscontact arm 302 of pair 2F, therebycompleting a circuit pass ing from terminal B, through resistance unit30I, contact 302--b of pair 2F, winding of relay 2FP, contact 303-g ofpair 2F, normal contact 305 of lever 21), normally open contact -32I ofcircuit controller 2-d3, nor-mal contact 301 of lever 2p, and resistanceunit 30I to terminal C. This circuit causes relay 2FP to becomeenergized to close its neutral and right-hand polar contacts, and hencea control code will be transmitted for clearing signal .2RA.

It will .be clear that by a similar manipulation the despatcher mayclear signals IRA and ZRA without changing any of the signals atstations III or IV, by depressing push button 2d3 and contact arm 302 ofpair IF, or he may clear signals IRA, 2RA.and 3RA without changing thesignals at station IV, by depressing push button M4 and contact'a'rm 302of pair IF.

It will be clear from the foregoing that my apparatus providesfacilities whereby the despatcher may quickly clear a route for themovement of a train over the whole or any desired portion of a stretchof track containing a large number of switches and signals, by moving asmany of the switch levers of his control panels as is necessary in orderto select the route that he desires to establish, and by then depressingthe push button Fv at the entrance of the selected route for the traflicdirection that he desires to establish. The extent of the territory thuscontrolled may be'limited either by placing the switch lever at the endof selected route in a conflicting position, as ordinarily will be donewhen a meet is to be arranged for two opposing trains, or by operatingone or" the push buttons (1. That is, the simul-' taneous operation ofany push button F and one of the push buttons (1 results in clearing aroute from the point in the track corresponding to the operated push"button F to the operated push button d, provided the switch levers areso aligned that a route is indicated as available from F to d on'thedespatchers control panels. Ordinarily the extent of territory that isunder'the control of a despatcher is very much larger than the stretchthat for simplicity has been illustrated herein and may comprise anentire division of a railroadl By the employment of my invention, adespatcheris enabled to control all of the switchesand signals includedin a much larger extent of territory than he would be able to controlifa separate manipulationwere required to .control each'switch and signalof a route for every train movement. 1 I,

I have described, for a few typical traffic movements, the operation of.one form of apparatus embodying my invention. "The operation of theapparatus for. 'every other possible traffic movement will therefore bereadily understood by reference to the drawings.

' Although I have shown and described myinvention applied to the systemshown and described by. L. V. Lewis" in his application for LettersPatent of :the United States, Serial No, 373,675, filed June; 25, 1929,for Remote controlling apparatus, it'is, to be understood that myinvention is equally applicable to other systems of remote control.

. Although I have herein shown and described only one form of remotecontrolling apparatus em bodying'my invention, it is understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be, made therein'within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, v

, Having thus described my invention, whatzl claim is: V I

1. In combination, a plurality of control relays one'for each ofaplurality of code controlled stations, manually controllable means forat times connecting said relays in'series for energizing them, aplurality of code starting relays one for each of said'stations forstarting a code for controlling the associated station, and meanscontrolled by the control relay for each station for controlling theassociated code starting relay.

2. In combination, a plurality of control relays one for each ofaplurality of code controlled stations, manually controllable means forat times connecting said relays in'series for energizing them, andmeanscontrolled by each of said relays for controlling codegeneratingapparatus for controlling the associated station.

1 3. In combination, a plurality of control relaysone for each of aplurality of code controlled stations, manually controllable means forconnecting a variable'number of said control relays in series' forenergizing said'variable number of relays, andmeans controlled by eachof said relays for controlling code generating apparatus for controllingthe associated station. 4,. ,In combination, a plurality of codecontrolled-stations; a code starting relay for each station forstartinga code for controlling the associated station, a circuitcontroller, and means controlled by said circuit controller for at timesenergizing a plurality of saidstarting relays.

5. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a plurality of railwayvtrafiic governing devices spaced'along said stretch, a relay for each ofsaid devices for controlling. the associated device, a plurality ofpairs of manually controllable circuitcontrollers one pair for each ofsaid devices and each circuit controller of each pairv having a-no'rmalposition to which it is biased and also having a reverse "position, a'circuitincluding said relays in series andsaid circuit controllers intheir normal position; means controlled by one circuit controller ofeach-pair in its reverse position for energizing a given group'of saidrelays, andmeans controlled by the'other circuit controller of the samepairin its reverse position for energizinga second group of said relays.

6. In combination, a stretchof railway track including a plurality ofconsecutive stations each comprising a track switch and: a signal :for.governing trafiic movements over said switch, manually controllablemeans, means cont'rolledby a single given operation of said manuallycontrollable means for causing the signals to indicate proceed at agiven number of 'saidstations, and meanscontr'olledby a second givenoperation of said manually controllable means. for causing thev signalsto indicate proceed at a difierent number of saidstations.

7. In combinatiomga stretch of railway track including a plurality ofconsecutive stations .each comprising'a track, switch andasignal forgoverning traflic movements over said switch, manuallycontrollablemeans, means controlled by said'manually controllable means forcausingthe signals to indicate proceed at a variable num ber ofsaidstations, indication apparatus, and means controlled bywsaid'manually controllable means for causing saidindication apparatus toindicate the condition of saidmanually controle lable means; it

' 8. In. combinationwith a track switch and a signal for governingtraflicover the switch, code transmitting means at a remote 'oifice foriselectively operating the switch and the signal, normally energizedswitch indication. means at the office adapted to, indicate thecondition of the switch, and means at the office controlled by saidindication meansfor controlling the code transmitting .means. 1 r

9. In combination with manually controlled apparatus for transmittingdifferent control signalsto a remote point for selectively controllingthe positions of arailwayswitch. located at such remote point'and'a.signal governing traffic over such switch, means for indicating theposition of said switch at said remote point, and manually controlledmeans for at times placing said apparatus under the control of saidswitch indication means.

10. In combination with a two position track switch, a two positioncontrol lever, transmitting means effective when actuated to operatesaid switch to a position corresponding tothe position of said lever,indication means'for indicating the position of the switch, a-manuallyoperable starting key for actuating said transmitting means, and meansfor preventing theactuation of said transmitting means when said key isoperated provided the position of the-lever, corre: sponds to theposition of the switch as indicated bysaid indication means- 11. Incombination with a. two position track switch, a plurality of: signals:for governing: traffic over: the switch, manually controllable. switchand signal control. means; transmitting means ior operating said switchand signals to positions corresponding. to the positions. of said.control means, switch and signal indication means for indicating thepositions: 01. said. and signals, a manually operable starting key foractuating. said transmitting means, and means for preventing ,theactuation: of said: transmitting means when said hey is. actuatedprovided. the positions oi. the. switch and; signal. control meanscorrespond to the positions of the swiinh and signals as indicatedbysaid indication means.

12.. In a centralized trafiic control system for railroads; a pluralitycc signals spaced at inter! vals' along a stretch. of railway track forgovern.- ing the. movement or. tramc in the same direction,transmitting: means at av control. ofllce. for transmitting codeseffective to selectively cl'ear said. signals, control. means for each;signal: etfective' when operated. to actuate said transmit.- ting meansto transmit a code to clear the corresponding. signal, indication meansfor indicating the: condition. 01 each; signal; and: means efiectivewhen. any one oi saidv control' means is operated to actuate. saidtransmitting meansv to transmit additional codes to clear each signalin. said stretch: in advance of the signal corresponding'to said controtmeans, said means. including means to prevent the transmissionof a code.to clear any signal indicated clear lay-said: indication meansl 13. Incombination a plurality" oi! railway signals, transmitting means toreach signal. for selectively clearing said control means efl'ectiv'e'when operated to actuate said transmit ting. means to clear eachof' saidsignals inturn, indication means tor indicating the condition of eachsignal; and means efieetive when. said con trol: means is operated toprevent: the actuation of each transmitting means for any signal whichis indicated clearby said indication means.

14. In a centralized traffic control system. for railroads, a stretch ofrailway track, aplurality of signals at dilierent' points in. said.stretch for controlling the. movement or traflic through said stretch, acontrol? relay for signal at a control office, a. normally open controlcircuit ineluding all of said relays-miseries; meansfor closing aportion. of circuit between. any two selected points in. said circuittoenergize a selected plurality of said relays, and means. rmderedeflecti've when each. relay becomes energizedfor clearing thecorrespomhng. signal.

15.. In a centralized" traflic control system for railroads, a stretchof railway track, a. plurality of pairs of opposing signals atdifferent. points in said stretcl'r. for controlling the. movement oftraffic. in. one direction or the other through said stretch, apolarizedcontrol relay for each pair of signals at a control. oflice, a. normallyopen control circuit including all of said: relays in series, means forclosing a portion oi: said, circuit between any two selected points:said circuit to: energize a selected pluralitylof. said. relays onedirection or the. other, and; means. rendered effective when each. relaybecomes energized for clearing one signal: or the other of thecorresponding pair in accordance. with the: direction of energization ofsuch: relay.

16.. In combination with; a track switch and a signal for governingtraflic over the switch, manually controllable switch and signal controlcontacts at a control oilice, code transmitting means effectivewhenoperatedto control the switch and the signal to positionscorresponding to the positions of. said levers, indication means at theoffice adapted to continuously indicate the positiOIl. of the switch andof the signal, and a. manually operable contact eiiective when. closedmomentarily to initiate the operation of the code transmitting meansprovided the position of: the switch or of the signal indicated by saidindication means is out of correspondence with its control contact.

17.. In a centralized traific' control system for railroads, an oiliceand a plurality of. stations, code transmitting means for establishing;communication between said office and said stations, one station at atime, tocontrol tram'c governing devices at the stations, a group ofcontrol levers in. the oflice for each station for determining thecontrol tobe effected by said transmitting means, a: stick. relay foreach group of levers effective when energized to initiate the operationof said transmitting means to select the station correspending. to suchgroup, a main startingcircuit in.- cluding a manually operable contact,means eiiectizve when said. startmg circuit. is closed to simultaneouslyenergize all of said stick relays, and a stick circuit for each stickrelay closed when the relay is energized. and opened when the.corresponding: station hasbeen selected.

Id; In combination with a stretch of railway track. including aplurality'of track switches, code transmitting means at. a control omcefor controlling said switches, a group of control levers at said officeincluding one. for each switch for determining the control: tobeeflected by said transmitting: means, a starting circuit includingcontracts. of all said. levers in series: and arranged to be closed onlywhen a non-conflicting route through said stretch will be renderedavailable by the operation of said code-transmitting means in accordancewith the positions of said; levers, means effective when said startingcircuit is closed for initiating the operation of said transmittingmeans to effect the control of said switches, and manually operablemeans for closing said starting circuit.

19. In combination with a stretch of railway track including a.plurality of track switches, transmitting means at a control ofiice forcontrolling said switches, a group of control levers at said ofliceincluding one for each switchfor determining the control to be effectedby said transmitting means, a manually operable contact for each lever,effective when closed to initiate the operation 01' the transmittingmeans in accordance with the position of the corresponding lever, andother manually operable means effective when operated to initiate theoperation of said transmitting means toeflect the operation of aplurality of said switches, each in accordance with the position of thecorresponding lever, if and only ii a non-conflicting route through saidstretch will be rendered available by such operation.

20. Apparatus for the remote control of movable devices comprising aplurality of levers, one for each device, each lever havingat least twopositions in each 01 which a normally inactive control contact isclosed", a starting circuit associated with each lever, means effectivewhen each said starting circuit is closed momentarily to complete acircuit over the cIosed control contact of the associated levertoeil'ect the movement of the corresponding device to a positiondetermined by the position of said lever manually operable means foreach circuit. for closing said circuit momentarily and individually, andother means for momentarily closing a selected plurality of saidcircuits simultaneously.

21. In a centralized traffic control system for railroads, an ofiice anda plurality of stations, transmitting means for establishingcommunication between said office and said stations to control trafilogoverning devices at the stations, a group of control levers in theoffice for each station for determining the control to be effected bysaid transmitting means, a starting relay for each group of leversefiective when actuated to initiate the operation of said transmittingmeans to select the station corresponding to said group, a main startingcircuit including a manually operable contact, means eiTective when saidstarting circuit is closed to actuate all of said starting relays, andmeans for restoring each starting relay rendered effective when thecorresponding station is selected.

HERBERT A. WALLACE.

